Valley of the Kings (film)
Encyclopedia
Valley of the Kings is a 1954
Eastmancolor adventure film
made by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
. It was written and directed by Robert Pirosh
from a screenplay
by Robert Pirosh and Karl Tunberg
, "suggested by historical data" in the book Gods, Graves, and Scholars
by C. W. Ceram
. The music was by Miklós Rózsa
and the cinematography by Robert Surtees
.
in Egypt
, where the tombs of the Ancient Egypt
ian kings are located.
MGM bought the rights to the archaeology text Gods, Graves and Scholars for "protection purposes," as it contained a chapter titled "Robbers in the Valley of the Kings" which might have been seen as having influenced the film's script.
The film was shot on location in Cairo
, Luxor
, Faiyûm, Suez
, the Libyan desert
and at the Pyramids of Giza
Egypt. Additional filming took place in El Segundo, CA.
The role of Mark Brandon, played in the film by Robert Taylor was originally given to Vittorio Gassman
.
The film's world premiere took place simultaneously on 21 July 1954 in Cairo and Alexandria
(as well as New York City) and marked the first time an American film had a world premiere in Egypt.
The film shows the antic place of Abou Simbel temples as they were since 3000 years, just before Aswan High Dam needs its move higher on the new bank.
1954 in film
The year 1954 in film involved some significant events and memorable ones.-Events:*May 12 - The Marx Brothers' Zeppo Marx divorces wife Marion Benda...
Eastmancolor adventure film
Adventure film
Adventure films are a genre of film.Unlike pure, low-budget action films they often use their action scenes preferably to display and explore exotic locations in an energetic way....
made by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. is an American media company, involved primarily in the production and distribution of films and television programs. MGM was founded in 1924 when the entertainment entrepreneur Marcus Loew gained control of Metro Pictures, Goldwyn Pictures Corporation and Louis B. Mayer...
. It was written and directed by Robert Pirosh
Robert Pirosh
Robert Pirosh was an American screenwriter and director.-Early years:Pirosh was born in Baltimore, Maryland and graduated from the Baltimore City College high school in 1928...
from a screenplay
Screenplay
A screenplay or script is a written work that is made especially for a film or television program. Screenplays can be original works or adaptations from existing pieces of writing. In them, the movement, actions, expression, and dialogues of the characters are also narrated...
by Robert Pirosh and Karl Tunberg
Karl Tunberg
Karl Tunberg was an American screenwriter and occasional film producer.Born in Spokane, Washington, Tunberg's earliest writings included short stories, and a novel entitled While the Crowd Cheers, which was published in 1935 by the Macaulay Company...
, "suggested by historical data" in the book Gods, Graves, and Scholars
Gods, Graves and Scholars: the Story of Archaeology
Gods, Graves, and Scholars is a popular book by German writer C. W. Ceram about the history of archaeology. First published in 1949, Ceram's book introduced the general reading public to the origin and development of archaeology...
by C. W. Ceram
C. W. Ceram
C. W. Ceram was the pseudonym of German journalist and author Kurt Wilhelm Marek, known for his popular works about archaeology. He chose to write under a pseudonym to distance himself from his earlier work as a propagandist for the Third Reich.Ceram was born in Berlin. During World War II, he...
. The music was by Miklós Rózsa
Miklós Rózsa
Miklós Rózsa was a Hungarian-born composer trained in Germany , and active in France , England , and the United States , with extensive sojourns in Italy from 1953...
and the cinematography by Robert Surtees
Robert Surtees (cinematographer)
Robert L. Surtees, A.S.C. was an American cinematographer who won Academy Awards three times, for the films King Solomon's Mines, The Bad and the Beautiful and the 1959 version of Ben Hur.His son Bruce is also a cinematographer.-Cinematography:Robert L...
.
Cast
- Robert TaylorRobert Taylor (actor)Robert Taylor was an American film and television actor.-Early life:Born Spangler Arlington Brugh in Filley, Nebraska, he was the son of Ruth Adaline and Spangler Andrew Brugh, who was a farmer turned doctor...
as Mark Brandon - Eleanor ParkerEleanor ParkerEleanor Jean Parker is an American screen actress. Her versatility led to her being dubbed Woman of a Thousand Faces, the title of her biography by Doug McClelland.- Early life :...
as Ann Barclay Mercedes - Carlos ThompsonCarlos ThompsonJuan Carlos Mundin-Schaffter, known as Carlos Thompson, was an Argentinian actor.- Career :Of German Swiss parentage, he played leading roles on stage and in films in Argentina. He went to Hollywood in the 1950s and was typically cast as a European womanizer...
as Philip Mercedes - Kurt KasznarKurt Kasznar-Early life:Kasznar was born in Vienna, Austria as Kurt Servischer. His father left when Kurt was very young, his mother married a Hungarian restaurateur named Ferdinand Kasznar, and Kurt assumed his surname. He emigrated to the United States in the mid-1930s for The Eternal Road in which he...
as Hamed Backhour - Victor JoryVictor JoryVictor Jory was a Canadian actor.-Biography:Born in Dawson City, Yukon, Jory was the boxing and wrestling champion of the Coast Guard during his military service, and he kept his burly physique. He toured with theater troupes and appeared on Broadway, before making his Hollywood debut in 1930...
as Taureg Chief - Leon AskinLeon AskinLeon Askin was an Austrian actor best known for portraying the character "General Burkhalter" on the TV sitcom Hogan's Heroes.-Early life:...
as Valentine Arko - Aldo SilvaniAldo SilvaniAldo Silvani was an Italian film actor. He appeared in 112 films between 1934 and 1964.He was born in Turin, Italy and died in Milan, Italy.-Selected filmography:* Four Steps in the Clouds...
as Father Anthimos - Samia GamalSamia GamalSamia Gamal was an Egyptian belly dancer and film actress.Born in the small Egyptian town of Wana in 1924, Samia's family moved just months later to Cairo and settled near the Khan El-Khalili bazaar. It was many years later that Samia Gamal met Badia Masabni, the founder of modern Oriental dance....
as Dancer - Rushdy AbazaRushdy AbazaRushdy Said Bughdady Abaza was an Egyptian actor. He died of cancer at the age of 53.-Family:...
as Robed Man - Singer (uncredited) - Leora DanaLeora DanaLeora Dana was an American film, stage and television actress....
as Lovely Girl (uncredited) - Frank DeKovaFrank DekovaFrank Dekova was an Italian-American character actor.-Biography:Dekova was born in New York City and taught at a school in New York before joining a Shakespeare repertory group...
as Akmed Salah - Nomad Guide (uncredited) - Loutfi El Hakim as Workman (uncredited)
- Mahmoud El-Sabbaa as Guide in Luxor (uncredited)
- Dr. Tewfik Helmy as Antique Dealer (uncredited)
- David LeonardDavid LeonardDavid Leonard may refer to:*David Leonard , guitarist and vocalist, member of Richard Lloyd's touring and recording band*David Leonard , Grammy-award winning audio producer*David Leonard , New Zealand cricketer...
as Claudius (uncredited) - Manuel Lopez as Arab Chanter (uncredited)
- Laurette LuezLaurette LuezLaurette Luez was a United States supporting actor and successful commercial model who appeared in films and on television during a 20 year career. She was a widely known Hollywood celebrity during the 1950s, owing much to publicity about her social life...
as Native Girl (uncredited) - Sayed Mabrouk as Taureg Leader (uncredited)
- Paul Maxey as Prior (uncredited)
- Joseph Mell as Antique Dealer (uncredited)
- Mahmud Shaikhaly as Robed Man (uncredited
Background
The title of the film refers to the valley on the west bank of the Nile RiverValley of the Kings
The Valley of the Kings , less often called the Valley of the Gates of the Kings , is a valley in Egypt where, for a period of nearly 500 years from the 16th to 11th century BC, tombs were constructed for the Pharaohs and powerful nobles of the New Kingdom .The valley stands on the west bank of...
in Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
, where the tombs of the Ancient Egypt
Ancient Egypt
Ancient Egypt was an ancient civilization of Northeastern Africa, concentrated along the lower reaches of the Nile River in what is now the modern country of Egypt. Egyptian civilization coalesced around 3150 BC with the political unification of Upper and Lower Egypt under the first pharaoh...
ian kings are located.
MGM bought the rights to the archaeology text Gods, Graves and Scholars for "protection purposes," as it contained a chapter titled "Robbers in the Valley of the Kings" which might have been seen as having influenced the film's script.
The film was shot on location in Cairo
Cairo
Cairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life...
, Luxor
Luxor
Luxor is a city in Upper Egypt and the capital of Luxor Governorate. The population numbers 487,896 , with an area of approximately . As the site of the Ancient Egyptian city of Thebes, Luxor has frequently been characterized as the "world's greatest open air museum", as the ruins of the temple...
, Faiyûm, Suez
Suez
Suez is a seaport city in north-eastern Egypt, located on the north coast of the Gulf of Suez , near the southern terminus of the Suez Canal, having the same boundaries as Suez governorate. It has three harbors, Adabya, Ain Sokhna and Port Tawfiq, and extensive port facilities...
, the Libyan desert
Libyan Desert
The Libyan Desert covers an area of approximately 1,100,000 km2, it extends approximately 1100 km from east to west, and 1,000 km from north to south, in about the shape of a rectangle...
and at the Pyramids of Giza
Giza pyramid complex
The Giza Necropolis is an archaeological site on the Giza Plateau, on the outskirts of Cairo, Egypt. This complex of ancient monuments includes the three pyramid complexes known as the Great Pyramids, the massive sculpture known as the Great Sphinx, several cemeteries, a workers' village and an...
Egypt. Additional filming took place in El Segundo, CA.
The role of Mark Brandon, played in the film by Robert Taylor was originally given to Vittorio Gassman
Vittorio Gassman
Vittorio Gassman Knight Grand Cross OMRI , popularly known as Il Mattatore, was an Italian theatre and film actor and director...
.
The film's world premiere took place simultaneously on 21 July 1954 in Cairo and Alexandria
Alexandria
Alexandria is the second-largest city of Egypt, with a population of 4.1 million, extending about along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea in the north central part of the country; it is also the largest city lying directly on the Mediterranean coast. It is Egypt's largest seaport, serving...
(as well as New York City) and marked the first time an American film had a world premiere in Egypt.
The film shows the antic place of Abou Simbel temples as they were since 3000 years, just before Aswan High Dam needs its move higher on the new bank.